Helena Jhong makes custom wigs for red‑carpet stars

Helena Jhong, the owner of Helena Collection Wigs in Midtown Manhattan, has built a business creating custom wigs and hair pieces that have appeared on major red carpets, including styles worn by Sydney Sweeney and Greta Lee. A 33‑year veteran, Ms. Jhong said much of her work has come by word of mouth and that her longtime customers include hairstylist Chris Appleton.

Her custom wigs range from $2,500 to $15,000, with product costs depending on length, labor and whether the hair is natural or synthetic. She has six employees and said making a personalized wig can typically take up to two weeks, though requests from Hollywood often arrive at the last minute.

Despite the visibility of some of her pieces, Ms. Jhong’s name is not always credited. She recalled being asked by a Hollywood agent to take down an Instagram post she had shared featuring their client, and said the reluctance to talk about wigs is partly because the accessories are meant to go unnoticed.

Ms. Jhong traced her career to her father, a South Korean immigrant who started a wholesale wig and hair‑extension business after arriving in the United States in the 1970s. She studied accounting at the State University of New York at Albany, joined the family business, and later moved her operation to its current location.

Key Topics

Culture, Helena Jhong, Helena Collection Wigs, Sydney Sweeney, Greta Lee, Chris Appleton